Chapter 2 CHAPTER TWO

I hurried out of the room and ignored the shouts, tears ran down my face. How could she even say that? She wasn't the slightest bit worried that something could happen to me if I was sent to the vampires. 

How? How? 

My door opened and she stood there looking at me with empty eyes. She closed the door roughly and approached me. 

"You always cried about wanting to be involved in the kingdom politics, you finally get a chance and you don't want it"

"Is sending me to die a part of the politics?"

"So? What if you die? Are you better than any of the soldiers who have died at the battlefront protecting the kingdom? You are a princess and you must protect your kingdom even if it costs you your life. That is how a true leader should act" I scoffed. 

"What have you ever done for this family? For this kingdom. This kingdom has given you so much. I have given you so much"

"I'm your daughter" I shouted, wiping the tears away. It seemed like she had forgotten that fact. How easy was it for her to ask me to go and die? 

"Yes, and you have a duty to this family. To protect us, to protect your sisters. What happens when the war continues and they eventually get a hold of them? A hold of us all? Isn't it better that you go rather than all of us"

I almost chuckled at her absurd words. What was she even saying to me? 

"You've never contributed to anything, you have a chance to finally do something. Write your name in the sands of time as a princess who gave herself up to save her country. It's the least you can do for us" I shook my head not even considering the idea. She mostly never acted like I was her daughter but when there is a need for a daughter to go and die, she suddenly remembers me. 

"I can't, I can't," I said firmly the second time. I would never go to the vampires. 

"You don't have a choice. The decision was made days ago. Your father already agreed to it"

"Lies. He would never send me away" she scoffed. 

"He already did. Prepare to become a hero for your country" she stormed out of the room and slammed the door. 

"No. No" I muttered. I couldn't believe that. I couldn't believe anything that she said. 

"Princess" My eyes snapped open to Agnes who was standing in the room. 

"I heard everything she said. You have to run away"

"To where? There is a war and I can't even leave the borders" I cried into my palm. 

"No. I know a way. The maids have been using it since the war"

"You knew about the war?" She refused to meet my eyes.

"Yes. Everyone did" Except for me. How did I not know that a war was happening in this kingdom? 

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I.....I didn't want you to get hurt. I first heard it from a maid who cleaned the tea room and then it was later confirmed. I don't want you to worry. And since no one had mentioned the mating, I thought your father wasn't going through with it. I guess I was wrong"

"You know about the mating too?" she nodded

"The maids know about it" I scoffed 

"Is there anything that the maids don't know that I should know too?" She wanted to say something but she hesitated 

"Agnes"

"It's rumors"

"Spit it"

"That..That the queen and the king are not your real parents" She looked at her feet. I chuckled dryly. 

"Leave Agnes"

"Princess...."

"I want to be alone"

"I'm sorry I said that. I shouldn't have please don't be upset with me" she pleaded

"I'm not upset with you. I just need to be alone" She nodded and left the room. I tried not to think about what she just said but I couldn't help it. What if the rumors were true? What if they weren't my real parents because of the way they acted sometimes? That was the only possible explanation. 

I sighed and crawled into bed. The next couple of days dragged by and I mostly spent my time at the window seat. Today, Agnes stayed with me and she had only just left. There was a knock at my door and one of the guards who had been posted outside my room since the news broke out poked his head in. 

"The king has asked me to escort you to the office" I nodded and followed behind the guard. My heart pounded in my chest. I had a few suspicions on why I was called and I hoped none of them were right. He pushed open the office door and I paused for a moment. Three large built men were standing in the room and taking up the space. Papa was seated in his seat and Mama stood beside him. I noticed they were holding each other's hands tightly. How sweet. 

"Is this the girl?" a deep voice asked in a bored tone. My eyes shifted to him. He was the tallest out of the three with pitch black eyes and brown hair. He had a dangerous posture and could easily squash me in his strong arms. 

"Yes," Papa answered from his seat. So this was the vampires. Were they here to take me already? Fear crept through me and I took a step back. Three pairs of eyes followed my movement. 

"She looks weak and sick. I don't want her"

"Sire" one of the men said and he shot him a glare. I relaxed a bit knowing the man didn't want me and maybe I wouldn't have to go with them. 

"Don't you have other daughters?" 

"No" Mother said quickly and I looked at her in shock. 

"Are you lying to me?" the man asked with a dangerous edge to his voice. 

"No....I'm not lying" Mother stuttered

"We have other daughters" Father said, "But she is the only one old enough for marriage" The man looked me up and down, distaste clear in his eyes. I watched his eyes glaze over me for a few seconds and they returned to their normal colour. 

The man sighed deeply.

"Fine. We'll take her" My world shattered in that moment and I staggered trying to process. I didn't miss the look of relief that crossed my parents’ eyes. They were happy that he was taking me?

"No" It came out before I could stop it. Mother rushed to my side in an instant and tried to touch me. Her fingers tightened around my wrist before I could move away. 

"No" I tugged my hand

"Don't embarrass us Ione" she said in a hard voice

"Step away from my property" the man commanded in a hard voice and she quickly let me go. One of the other two men held my hands and steadied me. 

"Now we have an agreement in place, you'll do well to stick to your lands and not get me upset again"

"Yes," Father said quickly. 

"We'll be leaving now" The man turned towards the door and stormed out without looking back or staring at me again. The other man followed him out and it was just the last man and me. The man led me towards the door and my legs followed. 

At the door, I turned back one last time. Father had a conflicted look on his face. And Mother? She had a smile on her face. For so long, she had not smiled at me. The only time she did was now I was being taken away. I was led out of the castle and into a luxurious carriage. My vision clouded with tears but I refused to let it spill. I wouldn't let anyone see me cry. The roads were rocky as we moved and eventually, the tears had vanished. 

"Hello," the man who led me to the carriage waved at me with a smile. He looked friendly unlike the other two, who had long faces. 

"I'm Jalen.This is the king, King Kaedon", he pointed to the other man seated on the other side of the chair, "And this is Adam" he pointed to the other man. I nodded and looked away. 

"What is your name?"

"Ione" I said looking at him as he continued to smile.

The journey continued in silence until the carriage finally came to a halt. 

"You both go ahead. I'll meet you soon"

"My......"

"Go" he cut Jalen off. I heard them come down but I didn't look in their direction. I tried to ignore the fact that it was only the king and I in the carriage but somehow, that seemed difficult. The ride continued in awkward silence until it finally stopped. 

"Get down" he said and I moved. He came out through the other side. We were standing outside a farm and for a second I wondered if this was Agnes' uncle's farm. A plump woman with grey hair came out through the small fence. 

"My king" she bowed at the man standing behind me. 

"Baylin. Good to see you're healthy" she smiled widely. 

"What brings you here my king?" 

"Her" he nudged me forward. The woman's eyes rested on me

"She'll be staying here with you until I come for her" he was leaving her here?

"Yes, my king" The woman nodded again and smiled at me. 

"Welcome child" I turned around and watched the man get into the carriage without looking back even once. I watched the carriage move off leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. 

"Come child" The woman pulled me by my arms and I let her.